quit

1 of 3

verb

ˈkwit How to pronounce quit (audio)
quit also quitted; quitting
Synonyms of quitnext

transitive verb

1
a
: give up sense 1
quit a job
b
: give up sense 2
quit smoking
c
: to depart from or out of
d
: to leave the company of
2
: to make full payment of : pay up
quit a debt
3
: to set free : relieve, release
quit oneself of fear
4
: conduct, acquit
the youths quit themselves like men

intransitive verb

1
: to give up employment
2
: to cease normal, expected, or necessary action
the engine quit
3
: to admit defeat : give up

quit

2 of 3

adjective

: released from obligation, charge, or penalty
especially : free

quit

3 of 3

noun

: the act or an instance of quitting a job

Did you know?

Is it quit or resign?

Should you quit or should you resign from your job? No matter which one you choose, it is likely that both of these actions will have the exact same effect on your future, as they are, in this sense, fairly synonymous. However, each is more likely to be found used in specific settings, so you may wish to choose your word with care. Resign is more formal, and will often be found when a person is describing relinquishing a position or office, especially if it is done in disgrace. While it would not be incorrect to say that a member of an organization's board, a king or queen, or a political leader "quit their position," it is more likely that the word resign would be employed.

Synonyms

Verb

Adjective

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for quit

stop, cease, quit, discontinue, desist mean to suspend or cause to suspend activity.

stop applies to action or progress or to what is operating or progressing and may imply suddenness or definiteness.

stopped at the red light

cease applies to states, conditions, or existence and may add a suggestion of gradualness and a degree of finality.

by nightfall the fighting had ceased

quit may stress either finality or abruptness in stopping or ceasing.

the engine faltered, sputtered, then quit altogether

discontinue applies to the stopping of an accustomed activity or practice.

we have discontinued the manufacture of that item

desist implies forbearance or restraint as a motive for stopping or ceasing.

desisted from further efforts to persuade them

Examples of quit in a Sentence

Verb She quit college after one semester. She decided to quit show business. He quit teaching after five years. Many workers are quitting because of poor pay. She hates her job and she's thinking about quitting. She quit smoking years ago. I wish you would quit bothering her. We're going to quit for the day. It's too hot to keep working. Adjective I am finally quit of that terrible task.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
The attempt to reduce the federal workforce is a push against on remote work—especially if government workers quit as a result of the initiative. —Chris Westfall, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024 The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway was the last album that Genesis recorded before Peter Gabriel quit the band to launch a solo career. —Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 20 Nov. 2024
Noun
Fewer quits may indicate that workers are becoming less optimistic about finding better opportunities elsewhere. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024 Join 10 others in the comments View Comments While the upcoming data may be temporarily noisy and choppy, the latest JOLTS report — which also tracks hires, quits, layoffs and other turnover activity — painted a straightforward picture of a cooling labor market. —Alicia Wallace, CNN, 29 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for quit 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English quiten, quitten, from Anglo-French quiter, from quite free of, released, from Latin quietus quiet, at rest

Adjective

Middle English quite, quit, from Anglo-French

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

circa 1923, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of quit was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing quit

Dictionary Entries Near quit

quisutsch

quit

quitch

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Quit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quit. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

quit

1 of 2 adjective
ˈkwit How to pronounce quit (audio)
: released from duty, responsibility, or penalty : free
quit of debt

quit

2 of 2 verb
quit also quitted; quitting
1
: to make full payment to or for : repay
quit a debt
2
: conduct entry 2 sense 4
the children quit themselves well in the woods
3
a
: to depart from : leave
quit the scene of the accident
b
: to bring to an end : abandon
c
: to give up (as an action or activity) for good
quit bragging
quit a job
4
: to admit defeat : surrender

More from Merriam-Webster on quit

Nglish: Translation of quit for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of quit for Arabic Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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